LCD Soundsystem

by LCD Soundsystem

Overview

If a music-nerd version of Animal House set in 2005 is ever made, "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" -- the boisterous opener of LCD Soundsystem -- would make an ideal theme song for the fraternity on which it is based. The self-conscious, awkward music obsessives pledging into this fraternity would have to pass a complex trivia test, own a compulsory list of records, and, as a hazing ritual, ask to dance with someone in public. If LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy were the least bit open to the concept, he could be the fraternity's advisor. Judging from a handful of singles and this album, he'd be more than qualified. His first A-side, 2002's "Losing My Edge," laid all his cards on the table, name-checking nearly everything that has been branded indispensable by a record store clerk during the past 20 years. This is someone who clearly owns tons of records and cannot escape them when making his own music. Acid house, post-punk, garage rock, psychedelic pop, and at least a dozen other things factor into his songs, and he's not afraid to be obvious. On occasion, he doesn't even allow fellow nerds to play guessing games. This is the case with "Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up" -- drowsy/dazed John Lennon vibes through and through -- as well as the drifting/uplifting "The Great Release" -- an alternate closer to either of Brian Eno's first two solo records. Otherwise, Murphy's songs cough up references from his subconscious or are put together as if he's thinking more like a DJ, finding ways to combine elements from disparate sources. "Movement" careens into high-energy guitar squall after a pounding beat and cranky synths; "On Repeat" happily replicates the scratches and jabs of guitar heard from A Certain Ratio, PiL, and Gang of Four, but its mechanical pulse and curveball synth effects couldn't be any more distanced from those three groups. Nothing here exceeds the brilliance of "Beat Connection" or "Yeah." Like just about everybody else these days, Murphy's more skilled at creating isolated tracks than making full-lengths, even though this particular full-length has few weak spots and unfolds smoothly as you listen to it from beginning to end. The bonus disc, containing all the stray single tracks, adds a great deal of value. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/2005
Label:	DFA RECORDS
UPC:	0829732213812

Tracks

1. Daft Punk Is Playing at My House
2. Too Much Love
3. Tribulations
4. Movement
5. Never as Tired as When I'm Waking Up
6. On Repeat
7. Thrills
8. Disco Infiltrator
9. Great Release

Album Credits

Performance Credits

LCD Soundsystem   Primary Artist
James Murphy   Various Instruments,Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass)
Pat Mahoney   Drums,Percussion,Synthesizer
Eric Broucek   Guitar,Clapping,Percussion
Nancy Whang   Vocals
Tyler Pope   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Marcus Lambkin   Percussion
Tim Goldsworthy   Synthesizer
Alex Epton   Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Paul Gold   Mastering Engineer
Pat Mahoney   Composer,Composer
Andy Wallace   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Eric Broucek   Sounds,Musician,Producer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Assistant Producer,Personal Assistant
Nancy Whang   Sounds,Musician
Bob Weston   Mastering Engineer
Ian Hatton   Engineer,Program Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Tyler Pope   Sounds,Musician
Mandy Coon   Sounds,Musician
Mike Lapierre   Engineer,Program Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Tim Goldsworthy   Sounds,Composer,Programming
Alan Douches   Engineer,Mastering,Mastering Engineer
The DFA   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Steve Sisco   Engineer,Program Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Josh Wilbur   Engineer,Program Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John O'Mahony   Engineer,Program Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Patrick Mahoney   Musician
Andy Sarroff   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Personal Assistant
James Murphy   Design,Sounds,Composer,Musician,Producer,Programming,Art Direction,Mixing Engineer
Matthew Thornley   Producer